Stuffed animal toy assembly

ABSTRACT

A toy animal system; the toy animal includes a first toy, a second toy, and a toy housing. Preferably, the first toy resembles an adult penguin; the second toy resembles a penguin chick; and the toy housing resembles an egg. The toy animal is nestable whereby the egg opens to receive the second toy and the first toy includes a compartment to receive the egg housing the second toy therein.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/816,404 filed Mar. 11, 2019, whichis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of toys and morespecifically relates to stuffed toys.

2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A stuffed toy is a play device with an outer fabric sewn from a textileand stuffed with flexible material such as cotton. Stuffed toys can takeon a variety of forms from human dolls to animals. Throughout history,stuffed animals have been common toys for children such as sock monkeysand “teddy bears”. Generally, stuffed toys are utilized as a form ofentertainment for children, comfort devices, displays, gifts forgraduations and birthdays, and/or collector items. However, stuffed toysshould be able to be utilized far beyond a mild form of entertainment.They should be provided as multi-functional educational and interactivetools for teaching children the importance of a particular subject.However, subject material for such toys can be bland and uninspired.Therefore, a suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0220688 to Jarret Peter Cuisinier relates to astuffed toy. The described stuffed toy provides a user with a storagepouch. For example, the stuffed toy may comprise a pouch located nearthe abdomen of the stuffed toy and this pouch may further comprise alocking opening. A user may then store toys or other objects in thepouch securely.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known toy art,the present disclosure provides a novel stuffed animal toy assembly. Thegeneral purpose of the present disclosure, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a set of stuffed toysresembling that of an adult penguin, a penguin chick, and an egg able tobe nested within one another.

A toy animal is disclosed herein. The toy animal includes a first toyconfigured to functionally and usefully resemble an adult animal. Thefirst toy may include a first head, a first body and a first pair offeet and the first toy may include a compartment located within thefirst body; the compartment may include a compartment capacity. A secondtoy may be provided and configured to functionally and usefully resemblea baby animal. The second toy may include a second head, a second body,and a second pair of feet.

A toy housing may also be provided and configured to functionally andusefully resemble an egg. The toy housing may include an egginner-capacity defined by an egg outer-shell, an open top, and a lid tocover the open top. The inner-capacity may be sized to receive thesecond toy, and the toy housing may be sized to fit in the compartmentcapacity, the toy animal may have nesting capability.

A method of using the toy animal is also disclosed herein. The method ofusing this toy animal may comprise the steps of: providing the toyanimal; placing the second toy within the inner-capacity of the toyhousing; closing the lid over the open top of the toy housing; placingthe toy housing within the compartment capacity of the first toy;selectively removing the toy housing from the compartment capacity ofthe first toy; opening the lid from the open top of the toy housing;selectively removing the second toy from the inner-capacity of the toyhousing; and playing with the first toy and the second toy.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, astuffed animal toy assembly, constructed and operative according to theteachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the toy animal during an ‘in-use’condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the toy animal of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the toy animal of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a side-front perspective view of the toy animal of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a side-front perspective view of the toy animal of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the toyanimal, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to toysand more particularly to a stuffed animal toy assembly as used toimprove and expand the multi-functional use of stuffed toys.

Generally, disclosed is a stuffed animal toy assembly which may includean adult penguin, a penguin chick, and an egg. The egg may be used forholding the penguin chick. The adult penguin may be provided with aclosable internal cavity for holding the egg therein. The cavity and eggmay be shaped and dimensioned in such a way that the egg can beremovably inserted into the cavity. Likewise, the egg may be able tocontain the penguin chick. In some embodiments, the internal cavity isselectively closed via a zippered fastener. In this way, the egg holdsthe penguin chick and the adult penguin can then hold the egg. Theclosure for the internal cavity may be located in between the feet ofthe adult penguin. The position of the closure and the internal cavitymay be significant to simulate the way an actual penguin keeps theireggs and offspring warm (i.e., under the adult penguin).

The stuffed animal toy assembly may simulate the way adult penguins carefor their offspring from the time they are hatched. While the presentembodiment includes a set of stuffed toys resembling a penguin, itshould be noted that the stuffed animal toy assembly can be any type ofanimal having an egg or pouch and a baby/offspring which the disclosedcombination of components and structural features that enable thedescribed relationships between the toy components is concentrated. Inaccordance with these dimensional relationships, the offspring toy, theegg toy, and the adult toy may be able to be nested within one another.The adult penguin and the penguin chick may include one or more featuressimulating that of an actual penguin (e.g., flippers, beak, eyes, feet,etc.). The adult penguin may be larger in size than the penguin chick.The adult penguin and the penguin chick can include a soft felt exteriorand cotton stuffing interior. However, a variety of textile materialsmay be utilized during manufacturing.

The egg may include an egg top to facilitate storage and removal of thepenguin chick. The egg top may include a tab for keeping the egg toppartially connected to the egg when opened. The tab may be connected toan internal surface of the egg at one end and the egg top at theopposing end. The egg may be substantially oval shaped and sized to fitinto the adult penguin. Further, the egg contains cloth or plastic. Theexact specifications, materials used, and method of using the stuffedanimal toy assembly may vary upon manufacturing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a toy animal100.

FIG. 1 shows a toy animal 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As Illustrated,the toy animal 100 may include a first toy 110, a second toy 120 and atoy housing 130.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the toy animal 100 of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first toy 110may be configured to functionally and usefully resemble an adult animalPreferably, as shown, the adult animal may be an adult penguin. However,the first toy 110 is not limited to just being an adult penguin; anyadult animal may be used. As shown, the first toy 110 may include afirst head 112, a first body 114 and a first pair of feet 116. Thesecond toy 120 may be configured to functionally and usefully resemble ababy animal. Preferably, the baby animal may be a penguin chick.However, the second toy 120 is not limited to just being a penguinchick; any baby animal may be used. As shown the second toy 120 mayinclude a second head 122, a second body 124, and a second pair of feet126.

The first toy 110 may include a first toy outer-shell 111 made from afirst soft textile material, and the second toy 120 may include a secondtoy outer-shell 121 made from a second soft textile material. In oneembodiment, the first soft textile material may be plush material.Further, the second soft textile material may be the plush material. Inone embodiment, the first soft textile material may be the same as thesecond soft textile material. In another embodiment, the first softtextile material may be different to the second soft textile material.For example, the second soft textile material may be a softer material,to simulate the difference between a baby animals' fur, hair, etc. ascompared to an adult animals' fur, hair, etc. Preferably, the first toy110 and the second toy 120 may be stuffed.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the toy animal 100 of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, thefirst toy 110 may further include a compartment 118 located within thefirst body 114. In one embodiment, the compartment 118 may be located ata bottom of the first toy 110. However, it is not limited to the bottomof the first toy 110. For example, the compartment 118 may be located ona stomach area of the first body 114. The compartment 118 may include afastener 117. In one embodiment, the fastener 117 may be a zippingfastener. However, other fasteners are contemplated. Such as buttons,snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, etc. Further, the compartment118 may include a compartment capacity. The toy housing 130 (FIG. 2) maybe sized to fit in the compartment capacity.

FIGS. 4A-4B show side-front perspective views of the toy animal 100 ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The toyhousing 130 may be configured to functionally and usefully resemble anegg. The toy housing 130 may include an egg inner-capacity 132 definedby an egg outer-shell 134, an open top 136, and a lid 138 to cover theopen top 136. In one embodiment, the toy housing 130 may be a plasticmaterial, or at least include the plastic material. In anotherembodiment, the toy housing 130 may be a cloth material, or include thecloth material. In some embodiments, the toy housing 130 may includeboth the plastic material and the cloth material. However, the toyhousing 130 is not limited to just plastic material or cloth material.As shown, the lid 138 may be attached to the egg outer-shell 134. In oneembodiment, the lid 138 may be attached to the egg outer-shell 134 via atab 139. The tab 139 may create a hinge connection between the lid 138and toy housing 130. In another embodiment, the lid 138 may be attachedto the egg outer-shell 134 via a second zipping fastener (not shown).

Preferably, the toy animal 100 may have nesting capability. The egginner-capacity 132 may be sized to receive the second toy 120, and asabove, the toy housing 130 may be sized to fit in the compartmentcapacity 119 (FIG. 3).

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a toy animal500, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Asillustrated, the method of using a toy animal 500 may include the stepsof: providing 501 the toy animal; placing 502 the second toy within theinner-capacity of the toy housing; closing 503 the lid over the open topof the toy housing; placing 504 the toy housing within the compartmentcapacity of the first toy; selectively removing 505 the toy housing fromthe compartment capacity of the first toy; opening 506 the lid from theopen top of the toy housing; selectively removing 507 the second toyfrom the inner-capacity of the toy housing; and playing 508 with thefirst toy and the second toy. A further step may include: selectivelyplacing 509 the second toy within the compartment capacity of the firsttoy, without the toy housing.

It should be noted that step 509 is an optional step and may not beimplemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 areillustrated using dotted lines in FIG. so as to distinguish them fromthe other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that thesteps described in the method of use can be carried out in manydifferent orders according to user preference. The use of “step of”should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is notintended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should alsobe noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issuesas design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost,structural requirements, available materials, technological advances,etc., other methods for toy animal 100 (e.g., different step orderswithin above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps,including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taughtherein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A toy animal comprising: a firsttoy configured to functionally and usefully resemble an adult animal,the first toy including a first head, a first body and a first pair offeet, the first toy further including a compartment located within thefirst body, the compartment including a compartment capacity; a secondtoy configured to functionally and usefully resemble a baby animal, thesecond toy including a second head, a second body, and a second pair offeet; and a toy housing configured to functionally and usefully resemblean egg, the toy housing including an egg inner-capacity defined by anegg outer-shell, an open top, and a lid to cover the open top, the egginner-capacity being sized to receive the second toy, and wherein thetoy housing is sized to fit in the compartment capacity, the toy animalhaving nesting capability.
 2. The toy animal of claim 1, wherein theadult animal is an adult penguin.
 3. The toy animal of claim 1, whereinthe baby animal is a penguin chick.
 4. The toy animal of claim 1,wherein the compartment is located at a bottom of the first toy.
 5. Thetoy animal of claim 4, wherein the compartment includes a fastener. 6.The toy animal of claim 5, wherein the fastener is a first zippingfastener.
 7. The toy animal of claim 1, wherein the first toy includes afirst toy outer-shell made from a first soft textile material.
 8. Thetoy animal of claim 1, wherein the second toy includes a second toyouter-shell made from a second soft textile material.
 9. The toy animalof claim 7, wherein the first soft textile material is plush material.10. The toy animal of claim 8, wherein the second soft textile materialis the plush material.
 11. The toy animal of claim 1, wherein the firsttoy and the second toy are stuffed.
 12. The toy animal of claim 1,wherein the toy housing is a plastic material.
 13. The toy animal ofclaim 1, wherein the toy housing is a cloth material.
 14. The toy animalof claim 1, wherein the lid is attached to the egg outer-shell.
 15. Thetoy animal of claim 14, wherein the lid is attached to the eggouter-shell via a tab.
 16. The toy animal of claim 14, wherein the lidis attached to the egg outer-shell via a second zipping fastener. 17.The toy animal of claim 1, wherein the egg inner-capacity is sized tofully enclose the second toy.
 18. A toy animal comprising: a first toyconfigured to functionally and usefully resemble an adult penguin, thefirst toy including a first head, a first body and a first pair of feet,the first toy further including a compartment located within the firstbody, the compartment including a compartment capacity; a second toyconfigured to functionally and usefully resemble a penguin chick, thesecond toy including a second head, a second body, and a second pair offeet; and a toy housing configured to functionally and usefully resemblean egg, the toy housing including an egg inner-capacity defined by anegg outer-shell, an open top, and a lid to cover the open top, theinner-capacity being sized to receive the second toy, and wherein thetoy housing is sized to fit in the compartment capacity; and wherein thecompartment is located at a bottom of the first toy; wherein thecompartment includes a fastener; wherein the fastener is a first zippingfastener; wherein the first toy includes a first toy outer-shell madefrom a first soft textile material; wherein the second toy includes asecond toy outer-shell made from a second soft textile material; whereinthe first toy and the second toy are stuffed; wherein the lid isattached to the egg outer-shell; and wherein the egg inner-capacity issized to fully enclose the second toy, the toy animal having nestingcapability.
 19. A method of using a toy animal, the method comprisingthe steps of: providing the toy animal including: a first toy configuredto resemble an adult animal, the first toy including a first head, afirst body and a first pair of feet, the first toy further including acompartment located within the first body, the compartment including acompartment capacity; a second toy configured to resemble a baby animal,the second toy including a second head, a second body, and a second pairof feet; and a toy housing configured to resemble an egg, the toyhousing including an egg inner-capacity defined by an egg outer-shell,an open top, and a lid to cover the open top, the inner-capacity beingsized to receive the second toy, and wherein the toy housing is sized tofit in the compartment capacity; and placing the second toy within theinner-capacity of the toy housing; closing the lid over the open top ofthe toy housing; placing the toy housing within the compartment capacityof the first toy; selectively removing the toy housing from thecompartment capacity of the first toy; opening the lid from the open topof the toy housing; selectively removing the second toy from theinner-capacity of the toy housing; and playing with the first toy andthe second toy.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the stepsof: selectively placing the second toy within the compartment capacityof the first toy, without the toy housing.